Geranium plant

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct geranium plant and characterized by orange-red flower color, medium plant height, medium internode length, semi-double flower form, semi-spreading branching pattern, mid-season spring-pot flowering response, prolific outdoor summer flowering traits, good foliage durability, and good flower durability under outdoor summer conditions.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,a hybrid of the genus Pelargonium, L'Her., hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name Songster.

Songster is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new geranium cultivars with red or orange-redflower color, mid-season spring pot flowering period, medium plantheight, semi-spreading branching pattern, and durable flowers andfoliage characteristics under outdoor summer flowering conditions.

Songster was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Barberton, Ohio in 1974. The female parent was ascarlet red semi-double seedling (unnamed, #71104011) originated by thepresent inventors from a hybridization of two unnamed seedlings. Themale parent of Songster was an orange-red semi-double seedling (unnamed,#69175001) originated by the present inventors from a hybridization oftwo unnamed seedlings.

Songster was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E.Duffett on June 10, 1975 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Songster was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June, 1975in a controlled environment by a technician working under formulationsestablished and supervised by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E.Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Songsterare firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Songster has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Barberton, Ohio and in Salinas, Calif. under environmentalconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Songster which in combination distinguishthis geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Orange-red flower color,

(2) Medium plant height,

(3) Medium internode length,

(4) Semi-double flower form,

(5) Semi-spreading branching pattern,

(6) Mid-season spring-pot flowering response,

(7) Prolific outdoor summer flowering traits,

(8) Good foliage durability under outdoor summer conditions,

(9) Good flower durability under outdoor summer conditions, and

(10) Dark green foliage color with pronounced dark zonation.

Of the several commercially available geraniums known to the presentinventors, the most similar in comparison to Songster are Orange Ricard(unpatented) and Yours Truly (unpatented). Reference is made to Chart Awhich compares certain characteristics of Songster with those samecharacteristics of Orange Ricard and Yours Truly. General comparisonsare as follows:

(1) In comparison to Orange Ricard, Songster has more red flower color,smaller average corolla diameter, and shorter plant height. Theflowering response period, branching pattern and internode length ofSongster are similar to those same characteristics of Orange Ricard.

(2) In comparison to Yours Truly, Songster has smaller average corolladiameter. The corolla color, flowering response period, internodelength, branching pattern and height of Songster are similar to thosesame characteristics of Yours Truly.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of Songster, with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to A Limit ColorCascade, by the Munsell Company, 1972 edition. Color values weredetermined between 11:30 A.M. and 12:00 Noon on Mar. 31, 1980 under 125foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Botanical classification: A hybrid of the genus Pelargonium, L'Her. cvSongster

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.--13 cm.

Average depth.--75 to 80 mm.

Peduncle length.--23 mm.

Pedicel length.--From 15 to 20 cm. averaging 17 cm.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--40 to 45 mm.

Form.--Semi-double; rotate.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--34-12.

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 35-12 to 36-12.

Color (adaxial).--36-9.

C. Bud:

Shape.--Conodial.

Color (adaxial).--35-12.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Monodelphous, dorsifixed, pentadynamous stamen, scant tomoderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--5-lobed, linear stigma; pubescent, 5-loculed carpel.

E. Spring flowering response period: Mid-season, 70% of plants with atleast 1 flower open 8 weeks after stick of unrooted cutting.

F. Outdoor flower production: Medium; flower count in 1976 averagedbetween 1.8 and 3.2 flowers per plant for June through Septemberobservation period.

G. Durability:

Shatter resistance.--Good.

Tolerance of botrytis.--Good.

II. PLANT

A. Foliage:

Form.--Reni-form.

Margin.--Undulate; crenate.

Color (abaxial).--21-14 to 21-15.

Color (adaxial).--21-14 overlaid with white.

Color (zonation).--Approximately 32-16 but more intense.

Tolerance of botrytis.--Good.

B. General appearance and form:

Internode length.--Medium.

Branching pattern.--Semi-spreading, produces mound type growth.

Height.--Medium.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF SONGSTER,                                                       ORANGE RICARD AND YOURS TRULY                                                 ______________________________________                                                             AVERAGE     SPRING                                                COROLLA     COROLLA     FLOWERING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR       DIAMETER    RESPONSE                                     ______________________________________                                        SONGSTER Orange Red  40-45 mm.   Mid-season                                   ORANGE                                                                        RICARD   Orange      50 mm.      Mid-season                                   YOURS                                                                         TRULY    Orange red  50 mm.      Mid-season                                   ______________________________________                                                 BRANCHING   INTERNODE   PLANT                                        CULTIVAR HABIT       LENGTH      HEIGHT                                       ______________________________________                                        SONGSTER Semi-       Medium      Medium                                                spreading                                                            ORANGE   Semi-       Medium      Tall                                         RICARD   spreading                                                            YOURS    Semi-       Medium      Medium                                       TRULY    spreading                                                            ______________________________________                                         COMPARISONS MADE BETWEEN NONPINCHED PLANTS GROWN IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA       AND IN BARBERTON, OHIO.                                                  

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct geranium plant, a hybrid of the genusPelargonium, L'Her., to be known by the cultivar name Songster, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized by thecombination of characteristics of orange-red flower color; medium plantheight; medium internode length; semi-double flower form; semi-spreadingbranching pattern; mid-season spring-pot flowering response; prolificoutdoor summer flowering traits; good foliage durability; good flowerdurability; and dark green foliage color with pronounced dark zonation.